In order to function properly, our body needs useful micro and macro elements, minerals and vitamins. Always - and especially during pregnancy, especially: after all, a woman is now not alone, but with a baby who takes away many useful substances from her mother. For her own well-being and the healthy development of a pregnant woman, it is imperative to constantly replenish their reserves in her body. For these purposes, there are many drugs, and one of them is Calcemin.
What is Calcemin
As you can guess by the name of the drug, this is a medication containing calcium. In addition to calcium, it contains many other useful elements (more on this below). It is aimed at eliminating the lack of calcium in the body and replenishing vitamin D. Thanks to Calcemin, the bones and joints become stronger, and the risk of musculoskeletal system diseases is reduced significantly.
Why does the body need calcium
Calcium is necessary for our bones and teeth - so that they do not break, they are strong and healthy. Calcium strengthens joints, tightens bone tissue. With its shortage, teeth can break down, nails break, hair fall out - and this is only a fraction of the problems associated with the deficiency of this much-needed element.
If it happens that the body does not have enough calcium, you should take "Calcemin" or any other drug containing calcium. But you should not think that it is only in medicines. Many tasty and healthy foods have calcium in their composition: nuts (most of all - almonds), milk and whole milk (as well as sour milk), fish, greens and green vegetables (for example, cabbage) and so on.
Indications
Why is Calcemin prescribed during pregnancy? As mentioned above, this occurs with a lack of calcium. The drug is prescribed for joint pain, for the prevention of osteopenia (weakening of bones and a high risk of fracture due to a decrease in bone density), treatment of insomnia, neurosis, dizziness. In some cases, the medication is used to eliminate seizures (often they appear if there is little calcium in the body, but a lot of potassium). Arrhythmia, cramping in the bronchi, tachycardia, memory impairment, weakness, vomiting, skin problems - all these unpleasant moments can occur with calcium deficiency.
However, like any other drug, Calcemin has its contraindications. About them below.
Contraindications
Firstly, "Calcemin" refers to those medicines that in no case should be taken without the appointment of a doctor. The unauthorized administration of this drug to yourself can contribute to an excess of calcium in the body, which, as well as a deficiency of this element, does not positively affect health. Too much calcium leads to the appearance of kidney stones, metabolic disturbances, and in pregnant women this can negatively affect the future baby.
Specific contraindications for taking Calcemin include: increased amounts of calcium in the blood and / or urine; intolerance to the components of the drug; urolithiasis disease; renal failure; active tuberculosis; gestational age up to twenty weeks.
"Calcemin": the composition of the drug
As mentioned above, in Calcemin, in addition to calcium itself, contains many other useful substances. These include zinc, copper, manganese, boron and vitamin D3. What is each of them for? Zinc and manganese are responsible for the restoration of damaged cells, boron is involved in metabolic processes, copper does not allow calcium to be removed from bones, and vitamin D3 helps calcium to enter the bloodstream. The element is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, and it is excreted through the kidneys with urine.
"Calcemin" during pregnancy: pros and cons
Perhaps, the lack of calcium in the body is never felt as sharply as in the wonderful period of pregnancy - after all, the baby develops in the mother’s stomach and takes away all the reserves of this element from her. Therefore, it is so important to make up for them in time. However, is it possible to "Calcemin" during pregnancy? There are opinions both for and against.
Calcemin is a special complex of useful substances and vitamins, which - and the instruction informs about this - is allowed for women during pregnancy and lactation. Of course, the amount of calcium in your body can be increased by choosing the right foods for food. But you need to remember that pregnant women need about one and a half grams of calcium per day (whereas its usual daily intake is 800 milligrams). And eating only calcium-containing foods (some of which, by the way, a woman may not eat for any reason), it is difficult to fill up the entire deficiency in the body.
"Calcemin" during pregnancy can be drunk only from the second trimester - in the first it is prohibited. However, in the second it is not allowed immediately, but only starting from the twentieth week. The instructions for use of "Calcemin" during pregnancy, this is clearly stated. In the early stages, Calcemin is drunk in exceptional cases - when calcium deficiency is extremely acute.
Thanks to the use of Calcemin, the density of bone tissue in the mother’s body increases, in addition, the necessary amount of calcium gets to the unborn baby. For the appearance of a child’s nails, teeth, cartilage, and so on - this component is responsible for all this. In addition, with a sufficient amount of calcium, crumbs will not subsequently develop rickets (a disease associated with a lack of vitamin D, this is a metabolic disorder and improper bone development).
The “above” use of “Calcemin” during pregnancy is also indicated by the above factors: stress, insomnia, dizziness, arrhythmia, cramps - all these and many other troubles will not affect a pregnant woman who has no lack of calcium. At times, the risk of miscarriage and premature birth is reduced, the condition of the teeth and nails improves, and the hair stops falling out. Thus, “Calcemin” has a beneficial effect on both the expectant mother and her baby.
It must be remembered, however, that calcium is not absorbed while drinking alcohol, as well as in the body of a smoker. Therefore, it is necessary to quit these bad habits, starting to take the drug "Calcemin" (although it is much more correct to do this while planning a pregnancy). In addition, you will have to completely reconsider your diet - refuse to take junk food, start moving more and the like. Many women are not ready for such changes in their lifestyle, and this becomes a “against” voice regarding “Calcemin.”
Many pregnant women are afraid to take any medicine whatsoever, because they worry that they will harm the baby. "Calcemin", as mentioned above, is harmless to the child and is allowed during pregnancy - however, within reasonable limits, not exceeding the daily allowance. Excessive calcium intake, indeed, can negatively affect the future crumbs - the baby will develop bone pathologies. Therefore, in no case should you arbitrarily increase the allowable dosage.
Dosage during pregnancy
Calcemin tablets must be taken with food. It’s best not just to swallow them, but to chew them first, then wash them down with water (or even better milk) - this way they will be absorbed easier and faster. The dosage of Calcemin during pregnancy per day is two tablets - one must be drunk in the morning, the second in the evening. It is advisable to set a specific time for taking the drug and observe it daily.
As a rule, the course of treatment is approximately four weeks, but, of course, it all depends on each specific case. And before what time to take "Calcemin" during pregnancy? It must be firmly remembered: in no case should you do this later than the thirty-fifth week. Otherwise, the baby's bones run the risk of becoming very hard, during childbirth, he may get a head injury, and the mother herself is threatened by tears in the perineum.
Side effects for pregnant women
Calcemin has quite a few side effects. So, an excess of it (and hence calcium) in the body leads to the appearance of stones in the urinary and gall bladders, as well as in the kidneys. In addition, if too much calcium accumulates in the body, this can interfere with the absorption of magnesium - which is necessary for the proper functioning of the heart and nervous system.
Side effects of Calcemin during pregnancy are also nausea, vomiting, itching, constipation, diarrhea, bloating; Allergies to the drug may, among other things, develop. Excessive accumulation of calcium in the blood and / or urine is also possible - in these cases they are already talking about an overdose of a medication, which must be treated either with a dose reduction or a complete withdrawal of the drug. On the recommendation of a doctor, laxatives are also acceptable.
Types of Calcemin
On the drug market, there is not only Calcemin, but also its variety Calcemin Advance. It contains the same components as the usual Calcemin, and is prescribed in the same cases (in addition, it is recommended for lowering the uterine tone), and the whole difference in these two drugs is that the number of trace elements in Calcemin Advance above. Accordingly, when taking this type of “Calcemin,” the dosage of the medication should be less.
The instructions to Calcemin Advance clearly stipulate the amount of the allowable daily dose, which should not be higher than 1500 milligrams of calcium and 600 milligrams of vitamin D3. There is also a note that during lactation, taking the drug is possible, but since it is excreted along with breast milk, you need to take something else that contains vitamin D3 and calcium.
What to drink - “Calcemin” or “Calcemin Advance”, should be decided only by the attending physician. In no case should you engage in self-prescribing and self-medication. And it must be remembered that Calcemin Advance has all the same side effects as Calcemin simple: nausea, vomiting, flatulence, an excess of calcium in urine and / or blood (such conditions are called hypercalciuria and hypercalcemia, respectively).
Analogs of the drug for pregnant women
Not everyone can afford to buy Calcemin (and someone is just greedy), because the cost of this drug is quite high - up to six hundred rubles (although the package will contain as many as one hundred and twenty tablets). For this reason, many are trying to find analogues of the drug, which may be at least a little cheaper. It also happens that it is on Calcemin that an allergy develops, and accordingly, a replacement of the medicine is required.
Not a single drug has an absolutely identical composition, however, there are a lot of very similar ones. Calcemin’s analogues during pregnancy include, firstly, calcium gluconate (but since it does not have vitamin D3, it will be less absorbable; if you use calcium gluconate, it is recommended that you take the necessary vitamin). Also it is “Calcium D3 Nycomed”, “Femibion 2”, “Citrocalcevit” (allowed at any stage of pregnancy), “Elevit pronatal” (a complex of vitamins and minerals that contains not only calcium, but also many other elements useful for pregnant women), “ Kanefron "," Vitrum Calcium D3 ".
Reviews about Calcemin
Reviews about "Calcemin" during pregnancy are pretty good. The undoubted advantage of the drug is the woman's lack of flavoring additives. Pregnant women also report that, thanks to taking Calcemin, the cramps in their legs have disappeared or significantly decreased and nervous tension has gone, nails and hair loss have stopped breaking. Doctors themselves also respond well about this drug, many recommend it to be taken.
Among the reviews about Calcemin during pregnancy, there are, of course, not very positive ones. Someone had an itch and an allergic reaction, someone suffered from digestive system problems, and someone simply did not like the price of the drug.
Interesting Facts
- Calcium is not produced by the human body.
- In some cases, the use of calcium is indicated for regulating blood pressure - this helps prevent heart and vascular diseases.
- There are many calcium supplements that fall into two types - calcium carbonate or calcium citrate. The first is cheaper and more affordable, the second is absorbed better with insufficient levels of stomach acid.
- Calcium is simultaneously capable of causing cancerous tumors (if there is an excess in the body), and preventing their occurrence.
- This is the most common trace element in humans and animals.
- Thanks to calcium, insulin is released, due to the lack of which a person can develop diabetes.
- An indispensable companion of calcium is vitamin D3, the deficiency of which can be made up in the sun.
One way or another, Calcemin is allowed to be taken during pregnancy. Another thing is that without consulting a gynecologist, this should not be done.